Join us and our guest reader, Tanisha Whitter of Connecticut Science Center, as we read this Caldecott Medal-winning book, and enjoy hot chocolate and light snacks! Pajamas strongly encouraged (not required) One look at this amazing-but-true picture book introducing the little-known artist Hawkins and his dreams of dinosaurs, and kids may well forget about Jurassic Park. As a child growing up in 19th-century London, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins discovered his passion: drawing and sculpting animal figures, especially prehistoric dinosaurs. His artistic…

June 2017

Dinner and a Movie is back for the summer! Charter Oak Cultural Center takes its love of reading out into the courtyard for "Dinner and a Movie." Enjoy a meal under the Hartford sky in our courtyard, then settle in for an awesome movie based on a popular book. Each of the first 20 families goes home with a copy of the book -- and it's all FREE! June's movie is "The Jungle Book (2016)" based on the…

Join us for a night of jazz standards, featuring modern interpretations of songs made famous by Nat "King" Cole, and additional music featuring Orice Jenkins' unmistakable sound. Discount student tickets are available!

July 2017

Charter Oak Cultural Center is once again setting the summer to music with our Summer Courtyard Concerts series. We are excited to be hosting the Funky Dawgz Brass Band, one of the premier touring acts on the live music scene today. Emerging from Connecticut, these young men have engulfed the spirit and traditions of New Orleans as well as earned the respect from local musicians who grew up and reside in the city. It is impossible not to enjoy yourself…

August 2017

Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present an exhibition displaying the works of current Parkville Studios Artists; Alexis Crowley, Justyna Dabrowski, Angela Godoy, Jack Hollant, and Micha Izydorczak. Enjoy the latest art from a brand new collaboration with Parkville studios! Join for a complimentary wine and cheese reception from 6-8pm on August 3, and get a chance to meet some of the cutting edge artists of the popular art studio. Charter Oak Cultural Center August 3–August 23, 2017 Artists Reception:…

Enjoy a meal under the Hartford sky in our courtyard, then settle into our sanctuary for an awesome movie based on a popular book. Each family (first 20 in attendance) goes home with a copy of the book -- and it's all FREE! August's movie is "Coraline" based on the modern classic children's book by Neil Gaiman! Coraline is a strange, heartfelt and action-packed family adventure that everyone will enjoy. "Dinner and a Movie: Coraline" will take place on August…

Charter Oak Cultural Center is once again setting the summer to music with our Summer Courtyard Concerts series. From streets of Buenos Aires to the foot of the Andes, The Americas Ensemble take the listener on a Latin-inspired journey that features music by renowned composers such as Piazolla, Gardel, Pujol, Montes and Lauro as well as exciting new arrangements of traditional music. The group is comprised of three outstanding virtuosos: Guitarist Daniel Salazar, flutist Gonzalo Cortes and special guest,…

September 2017

Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to once again welcome Professor Christopher Vials for another community talk, unpacking recent disturbing events and their ramifications. This talk reviews the history of fascist and antifascist currents in the United States from the 1920s to the present. It pays special attention to the middle class nature of fascism and the current debates over white nationalist rallies and free speech. Chris Vials is the author of Haunted by Hitler: Liberals, the Left, and the…

Read It and Sleep is back for our Fall Season, featuring "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs!" Join us and our special guest reader as we read this award-winning book, explore an artistic activity, and enjoy some hot chocolate and light snacks! (Pajamas strongly encouraged) This is a free event, and the first 20 families in attendance will receive a free copy of this month's featured book!

Join us on September 28 to celebrate Sukkot with the decorating of our sukkah! The family-focused event will feature arts and crafts, games, face painting, live music, and a few more surprises. The decorating begins at 4:30 p.m and participation is FREE. Immediately following the Sukkah Decorating Party is our September Family Dinner. Join us for more music and a free community meal. The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 860-310-2580.

Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present an exhibition displaying the works of photographer Arienne Davey, "The Art of Protest." Join the artist for a complimentary wine and cheese reception from 6-8pm on September 28! About the Artist: Arienne Davey has been creating photographs for a little over 25 years. She has shot from below sea level, snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos, to the ruins of Machu Picchu at almost 8,000 feet. On the spur of the…

Charter Oak Cultural Center is excited to announce a free lecture featuring the author of Jewish Comedy: A Serious History, Jeremy Dauber! In a major work of scholarship both erudite and very funny, Jeremy Dauber traces the origins of Jewish comedy and its development from biblical times to the age of Twitter. His exploration takes us from the Book of Esther to Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm from the work of such masters as Sholem Aleichem, Franz Kafka, the Marx Brothers, Woody…

Go figure, right? Life is full of unexpected moments. Spend an evening hearing about them with Tell Me Another at the Charter Oak Cultural Center on Saturday October 21. Enjoy stories from Moth GrandSLAM Winner Terry Wolfisch Cole and: Richard Cardillo Shoshanna Foster Carolyn Freer Judith Mann Andre Medano Lorrie Pearson Mark Scerra Erica Thrall Just a reminder about Charter Oak, by the way: It's a BYO venue. Feel free to bring a 6-pack or a bottle of wine and some glasses.…

Laurie Wohl, "Window of Prayers" “The human brain now holds the key to our future. We have to recall the image of the planet from outer space: a single entity in which air, water, and continents are interconnected.” – David Suzuki, scientist. This exhibition will bring together works that embody harmonious multiculturalism and inter- religious unity. In the current age, we focus on what divides, rather than what unites us. Artists are encouraged to submit works that highlight our common humanity, rather…

Charter Oak gets spooky for our annual Halloween Bash, a fun family-friendly evening of music, treats, games an art activities for the kids. Come dressed in your spookiest costume and have a blast! Our annual Halloween Bash will take place in our Sanctuary space on October 26 at 6:30 p.m. The event is FREE. For more information, call 860-310-2580.

November 2017

A benefit concert for our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Join us for a sparkling night of music and entertainment. 100 percent of all proceeds will be donated to the ongoing hurricane relief effort. Including performances by: Orice Jenkins, Sarah Morin, and Daniel Salazar. Suggested Donation: $15 For more information, call 860.310.2580

Charter Oak Cultural Center and The UCONN Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life are coming together to present The Guy Mendilow Ensemble, back by popular demand once again! This special performance is a featured event in Charter Oak's 13th Annual Celebration of Jewish Arts and Culture. The Guy Mendilow Ensemble operates on the notion that incredible stories and emotionally sweeping experiences can do far more than just entertain. They can spark resonance, fascination and motivation to care beyond…

The Giving Tree Read It and Sleep returns for November with Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree!" The Giving Tree, a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein, has been a classic favorite for generations. Since it was first published fifty years ago, Shel Silverstein's poignant picture book for readers of all ages has offered a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to…

December 2017

This workshop has been cancelled, and will be rescheduled for a date in the first half of 2018(TBA). Check back soon! Join us for a reception and then a discussion presented by the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) about tax credits that are available to corporations to help non-profits with capital projects. The SHPO’s grant programs for non-profits will also be discussed. It’s a great program and we want to share the news! This event is free and open…

The rise of Golda Meir from impoverished Russian schoolgirl to prime minister of Israel is one of the most amazing stories of the 20th century. Now her life has been transformed into a play of overwhelming power and inspirational triumph by William Gibson, author of "The Miracle Worker." Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present this staged reading as a part of our 13th Annual Celebration of Jewish Arts and Culture. Tickets on sale now!

January 2018

Our annual production of The Vagina Monologues is gearing up -- auditions are coming soon! Auditions for this year's production will be held at Charter Oak Cultural Center on January 9 and 11, 2018 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. The production will be directed by Adrienne Marie. Auditioners are asked to bring a selection from The Vagina Monologues to read. Monologue material will be available at the audition for those who need it. The Charter Oak Cultural Center production…

Read It and Sleep returns for 2018 with My Mother's Sari by Sandhya Rao! In My Mother's Sari, a little girls sees her mothers sari as ""long like a train"" and that it ""fills the air with color when I dance and sing."" A blue sari is a ""river""; a patterned one is a place to hide with her friends. Best of all, the youngster wraps herself in the vivid cloth because she loves how it makes her dream.…

February 2018

Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present "A Sad and Beautiful World," photography by Erik Williams. Previously exhibited at Real Art Ways, Charter Oak's installation will feature exclusive and previously unseen works that have been added to the collection. Erik Williams’ aesthetic is informed by the opportunity for rawness that his camera allows him, helping him to create moments of honesty. Says Williams, “I use my photography to catch a glimpse of what I see, in order to share it…

In special association with the author, Charter Oak is proud to present a staged reading of the modern classic, Day Of Tears, by Julius Lester. Join a talented cast of actors directed by Laurie Maria Cabral as they retell the story of the largest slave auction in American History. Tickets on sale now!

Read It & Sleep is back for Black History Month with Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill! Join us for free snacks, hot chocolate, a fun activity and an entertaining read of our featured book from our guest reader, Lina Osho-Williams of Hartford Public Library! Each family in attendance goes home with a FREE copy of the book! (while supplies last)

An international search for the best unpublished Jewish plays.Part of the 13th Annual Celebration of Jewish Arts and Culture, and produced in collaboration with the UCONN Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life. Enjoy – and judge – this year’s top three. This year all plays are special "best of" selections from previous years' winners and finalists! Watch a cast of stellar actors read 20-minute sections from three plays, hear JPP Founder David Winitsky share the latest trends, and…

You're invited to Sips and Scripts! You bring the wine, we'll provide the glasses, hors d'oeuvres, works from local artisans on sale, music, and mingling with members of the cast of The Vagina Monologues. Wear red to mark this VDay event. $25 ticket includes admission to the Friday, February 23rd opening night performance of The Vagina Monologues at 7:30pm. Limited space. Get your tickets early! Tickets for Sips & Scripts art by Elaine Lynders, GHS '17 Now Accepting Donations…

Eve Ensler's groundbreaking play, The Vagina Monologues, is a series of monologues about women and their bodies, including texts on sex, love and rape. Adrienne Marie, a veteran of previous productions, returns this year as director! V-Day is a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls. Further information about V-Day can be found at: www.vday.org. Proceeds benefit My Sister's Place, Interval House and Connecticut Transadvocacy. Doors open at 7 pm Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24. The…

Eve Ensler's groundbreaking play, The Vagina Monologues, is a series of monologues about women and their bodies, including texts on sex, love and rape. Adrienne Marie, a veteran of previous productions, returns this year as director! V-Day is a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls. Further information about V-Day can be found at: www.vday.org. Proceeds benefit My Sister's Place, Interval House and Connecticut Transadvocacy. Doors open at 7 pm Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24. The…

March 2018

Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present a special screening of Harvesting Stones, featuring an exclusive Q&A with the filmmaker! About Harvesting Stones: It's the 1890s. Connecticut Yankees are selling their rocky farms, Jews are fleeing Czarist Russia, and a Jewish back-to-the-land movement sees turning shtetl refugees into farmers as the best way for them become productive, self-sufficient Americans. Add some funding from the German-Jewish philanthropist Baron Maurice de Hirsch and you have the recipe for a Jewish…

Join us in our gallery, as Read It & Sleep mixes it up for the "Spring Book Grab." Join us for snacks, some fun Spring art activities and a book-fair style grab featuring Read It & Sleep's greatest hits and new favorites! Special guest reader TBA As always, Read It & Sleep is free and open to the public! For more information, visit www.charteroakcenter.org, or dial 860.310.2580

Charter Oak Cultural Center is honored to present the 20th Annual Ted Hershey Dance & Music Marathon Concert features dance companies, choreographers and schools in a signature celebration of Hartford's rich, culturally diverse dance community. It celebrates the life and work of Ted Hershey, principal dancer with Hartford Ballet and co-founder of Works Contemporary Dance, who died of AIDS in 1998.

The signs you made for the women’s marches and The March for Our Lives are too clever to be put in a closet somewhere! Charter Oak Cultural Center is now accepting submissions for our upcoming art installation of protest signs from those recent marches. The signs will be installed on the beautiful, historic fence on our property—an outdoor exhibit that will withstand and be impacted by the weather, just as committed protesters are. Please send us pictures of your funny,…

Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present "Race and Revolution: Still Separate - Still Unequal" in a special partnership with Uconn's Thomas J. Dodd Research Center. Join us for a complimentary wine and cheese reception on April 13! ABOUT THE EXHIBITION: "Race and Revolution: Still Separate - Still Unequal," investigates the prevalence of segregation in the United States public school system. Since the inception of #BlackLivesMatter in 2012, the American population is reflecting on what happened after the Civil…

Join us for the latest installment of our free community reading series, focused on books that spark revolutionary conversations about social justice. In an exciting partnership with Hartford Public Library, this Spring we are featuring Citizen: An American Lyric! Pick up a copy of the book at Hartford Public Library, Charter Oak Cultural Center, or your local book seller and start reading. On April 19, join us in the Charter Oak Sanctuary for an interactive lecture with UConn's own Shardé…

Read It and Sleep's 2018 season continues with Chocolate Me by Taye Diggs! The boy is teased for looking different than the other kids. His skin is darker, his hair curlier. He tells his mother he wishes he could be more like everyone else. And she helps him to see how beautiful he really, truly is. For years before they both achieved acclaim in their respective professions, good friends Taye Diggs and Shane W. Evans wanted to collaborate on Chocolate Me!, a book…

Human Dignity in Judaism: A free lecture In this talk from acclaimed author and intellectual Susannah Heschel, we explore the themes of human rights and dignity within Jewish religious texts, and how they relate to the modern human experience. Susannah Heschel is the Eli Black Professor and chair of the Jewish Studies Program at Dartmouth College. She is the author of “Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus” and “The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany” as…

May 2018

Mr. President (Mosaic Tile) Pierre Sylvain, 2018 Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present the premiere exhibition of a series of mosaics created by award-winning artist, Pierre Sylvain, and a site-specific mixed media installation on The Wall, Spring Song, by Kim Sobel. Mosaics are often associated with abstract art or works of antiquity, but Sylvain is working to change that perception with Mosaic Affair. "Mosaic is an ancient art, and it's very exciting to update it with depictions…

Charter Oak Cultural Center is excited to announce House of Love- Prayers For the Earth- paintings by Elisabeth Moss. Enjoy a complimentary wine and cheese reception on June 14, discover this new and exciting collection, and get a chance to meet the artist! Elisabeth Moss has been creating visual expressions since childhood. Her exhibit "House Of Love- Prayers For The Earth" was inspired by a watercolor she made at the age of 7- presaging the spiritual nature of her art making today. In the…

The first annual Make Music Hartford, a wild and wonderful mix of free outdoor musical events, will make its debut on Thursday, June 21. Make Music Hartford is part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration that takes place on the summer solstice each year and brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music. This year, more than 750 cities worldwide will host thousands of Make Music performances as part of the world’s largest annual…

Enjoy a meal under the Hartford sky in our courtyard, then settle into our sanctuary for an awesome movie based on a popular book. Each family (first 20 in attendance) goes home with a copy of the book -- and it's all FREE! June's movie is A Wrinkle In Time (2018), based on the award-winning classic by Madeleine L'Engle! A Wrinkle In Time is a strange, heartfelt and action-packed family adventure that everyone will enjoy. "Dinner and a Movie: A…

Charter Oak Cultural Center is once again setting the summer to music with our Summer Courtyard Concerts series. We are proud to once again welcome Hartford Steel Symphony, one of the most well known steel drum and West Indies music groups in all of New England! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIq1iLiHyY8 Join us, bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy food and music under the Hartford sky. As always, admission to this concert series is free of charge. Food and drink will be…

July 2018

Food is served at 6PM. Movie starts at 7PM. Enjoy a meal under the Hartford sky in our courtyard, then settle into our sanctuary for an awesome movie based on a popular book. Each family (first 20 in attendance) goes home with a copy of the book -- and it's all FREE! July's movie is "The BFG," the Spielberg-directed film based on the award-winning classic by Roald Dahl! "Dinner and a Movie: The BFG" will take place on July 14…

Charter Oak Cultural Center is once again setting the summer to music with our Summer Courtyard Concerts series. July 21, we are excited to welcome the prodigious jazz stylings of the Tom Dempsey Trio! Food and drink will be available at 1:30 p.m. (While supplies last) The 60-minute concert will begin at 2 p.m. Admission to this event is free! “Summer Courtyard Concerts” is funded through a grant by The Evelyn W. Preston Memorial Fund, Bank of America. N.A., Trustee.…

“The world endures only for the sake of the breath of children.” - Talmud Monday, July 23rd at 6:30 pm @ B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom, 180 Still Road, Bloomfield Featuring mental health experts, educators and child survivors, this teach-in is free and open to the the entire community.

Followed by intimate conversation with artist Elisabeth Moss Join us to discover new poems inspired by the paintings of Elisabeth Moss, and gain insight into the process of creating the latest installation in the Charter Oak gallery at this exclusive talk from the artist. This event is free and open to the public.

August 2018

The rich cultural traditions of the nations of the West Indies will be celebrated in Traversing Traditions / West Indies at Charter Oak Cultural Center, beginning August 16. Traversing Traditions / West Indies is a month-long celebration of the music, visual arts, and dance of the West Indies. High-caliber performing artists will present both traditional and contemporary music and dances native to the West Indies. The visual and media arts segments redefine notions of the “contemporary” through an amalgamation of…

The rich cultural traditions of the nations of the West Indies will be celebrated in Traversing Traditions / West Indies at Charter Oak Cultural Center, beginning August 16. Traversing Traditions / West Indies is a month-long celebration of the music, visual arts, and dance of the West Indies. High-caliber performing artists will present both traditional and contemporary music and dances native to the West Indies. The visual and media arts segments redefine notions of the “contemporary” through an amalgamation of…

September 2018

Over 38 cities around the world have what are called “Street Pianos,” pianos placed on the street for anyone to play, regardless of ability and now Hartford is joining them. In providing free access to a musical instrument, Charter Oak enables Hartford to join the likes of New York, Melbourne, London, Sydney and Barcelona in bringing access to the piano to residents. “Street Pianos at Charter Oak: Launch Day” will be held on September 5, 2018 at 12PM. Guests…

We are pleased to welcome back Hartford Steel Symphony to our stage for Traversing Traditions: Music. Traversing Traditions / West Indies is a month-long celebration of the music, visual arts, and dance of the West Indies. High-caliber performing artists will present both traditional and contemporary music and dances native to the West Indies. The visual and media arts segments redefine notions of the “contemporary” through an amalgamation of traditional, indigenous, popular, and current art practice by the featured artists.Taken as…

The rich cultural traditions of the nations of the West Indies will be celebrated in Traversing Traditions / West Indies at Charter Oak Cultural Center. Traversing Traditions / West Indies is a month-long celebration of the music, visual arts, and dance of the West Indies. High-caliber performing artists will present both traditional and contemporary music and dances native to the West Indies. The visual and media arts segments redefine notions of the “contemporary” through an amalgamation of traditional, indigenous, popular,…

Join us on September 20 to celebrate Sukkot with the decorating of our sukkah! The family-focused event will feature arts and crafts, games, face painting, live music, and a few more surprises. The decorating begins at 4:30 p.m and participation is FREE. Immediately following the Sukkah Decorating Party is our September Family Dinner. Join us for more music and a free community meal. The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 860-310-2580.

Our monthly literacy program, "Read It and Sleep," returns for the fall! Cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate and cookies, and listen as a children’s book is read by a guest reader. The first 20 kids recieve a FREE copy of the book! Enjoy art activities and games, as well! READ IT AND SLEEP begins at 7 p.m. in the Charter Oak Gallery. For more information, call 860-310-2580.

Charter Oak Cultural Center will be hosting auditions for "A Civil War Christmas" on October 11, 2018, in partnership with the University of Connecticut. Students must be in grades 9-12 to audition, no appointment necessary. Field trips to UConn to watch the professional production and transportation will be provided. For more information: Brennah@charteroakcenter.org 860.310.2589

Charter Oak Cultural Center is excited to offer a screening of the acclaimed film from Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday. A poignant story of generational trauma and healing, this documentary, focusing on 91 year Holocaust survivor Sonia Warshawski, offers a laugh-out-loud-funny portrait of the power of love to triumph over bigotry, and the power of truth-telling to heal us all. The screening will begin at 7PM and is free and open to the public. Presented as part…

Charter Oak gets spooky for our annual Halloween Bash, a fun family-friendly evening of music, treats, games an art activities for the kids. Come dressed in your spookiest costume and have a blast! Our annual Halloween Bash will take place in our Sanctuary space on October 25 at 5:00 p.m. The event is FREE. For more information, call 860-310-2580.

November 2018

On November 1 from 6-8PM Charter Oak Cultural Center will host a Tribute to Sandy Parisky. Sandy was part of a group that worked to save the building from the efforts of The Hartford Redevelopment Agency to reuse the land, putting the building at danger of demolition or reuse as a profit making entity. The Restoration of the Charter Oak Temple became a civic goal that resulted in the commitment to make Connecticut’s first synagogue a lasting monument to…

Our yearly commemoration event of Kristallnacht brings the community together with local artists to mark "The Night of Broken Glass." This multi-faith event is a meditation on the horrors of war and a call for peace. This year, we will also pause to reflect on the tragic Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. This event is part of the 14th Annual Celebration of Jewish Arts and Culture, our yearly exploration of the historical and contemporary expressions of Jewish identity…

November 15 through December 21 Weekdays 10am - 5pm EXHIBITION OPENING: Saturday, November 17 from 5pm to 7pm. Charter Oak Cultural Center honors the late Robert Neiditz with an exhibition of his original art in their gallery space located at 21 Charter Oak Avenue in downtown Hartford. This retrospective of Neiditz’s work, which encompassed paintings, etchings, and pastels, will be on display from November 15 through December 21, 2018. The exhibit will be open during Charter Oak Cultural Center’s normal operating hours, weekdays…

FREE Our monthly literacy program continues in November. Our young readers will participate in some fun art activities, hear Vera B. William's A Chair For My Mother read by a special guest, and enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies. Every child takes home a free copy of the month's featured book! About A CHAIR FOR MY MOTHER: This classic and award-winning picture book was written and illustrated by the celebrated Vera B. Williams and was named a Caldecott Honor Book by the…

This event is great for children ages 8 to 12 who love the spotlight or need to get more comfortable in the spotlight. Join us for improv games and techniques! A perfect opportunity for kids to learn public speaking, quick thinking, and teamwork. FUN and FREE! Email brennah@charteroakcenter.org to register.

$20 General Admission / $15 Seniors 65+ / $5 Students / No one turned away due to lack of funds. In a mix of narrative, song and dance that audiences have praised as "powerful," and "incredibly brave... moving," How It Is brings key issues of incarceration to the stage. Performed by members of Judy Dworin Performance Project's Ensemble and guest artists that have, at one point, spent time in prison, this work sheds light on the experience of incarceration and the challenges…

December 2018

Tickets: $20 / $15 for Seniors / $5 for Students / No one turned away due to lack of funds. ONLINE TICKET SALES HAVE ENDED FOR THIS EVENT. Tickets will be available at the door the evening of the performance. Growing Up Gonzales, the funny and moving celebration of a bond shared by two Puerto Rican brothers, is coming to Hartford’s Charter Oak Cultural Center on Saturday, December 1stat 7:30pm. Written, directed and produced by Felix Rojas and starring Andres “Chulisi” Rodriguez, it is one of…

FREE! December 10, 2018. A dinner will be held at 5:30P.M. with the show started promptly at 6:30P.M. Join us for an celebrating all the children have learned this fall in their annual Youth Winter Arts Showcase. The children in the Youth Arts Institute make music that matters. Come out and support them!

FREE! Saturday, December 15 at 7pm It is 1864 and Christmas time, however due to the war, it is not a normal Christmas. It is a crucial time for the country. On one side of the Potomac is a mother, trying to rescue her daughter from the life of slavery. While on the other side a Confederate soldier runs in the frost of night to join the fight. In the middle, First Lady Lincoln looks for the perfect gift to…

January 2019

Is your vagina tired of not being able to get a word in edgewise? NOW'S YOUR CHANCE! All women 18 and up are invited to audition for a speaking part in Eve Ensler's hilarious, touching and riveting THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. Interested parties can pick from TWO nights for auditions: Tuesday, January 8th at 6PM Wednesday, January 9th at 6PM Everyone who would like to participate MUST be available for both performances: Friday, February 15th at 7:30pm and Saturday, February 16th…

Our monthly literacy program for kids! Enjoy Drinks, cookies, and a children's book read by a guest. Come in your pajamas and take home a free copy of the book. This month's featured book: MOLE MUSIC by David McPhail with special guest performer, Hartt School violinist Lindsay Rosenberg. A spiritual story about the far-reaching effects of private actions. Mole has always led a simple life, but lately he feels something is missing. When he first hears someone playing a…

Charter Oak Cultural Center Friends & Family Pizza Party Come with your friends and family and purchase a pizza dinner! Charter Oak Cultural Center will receive a portion of the proceeds from each pizza purchase made during those hours on that day. Tuesday, January 22, 2019 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Flatbread Company is a strip-mall eatery with a relaxed vibe serving flatbread pizzas with locally sourced ingredients. Address: The Shops at Farmington Valley, 110 Albany Turnpike # 914, Canton,…

Professor Christopher Vials comes to Charter Oak Cultural Center to present his lecture “White Nationalism beyond Trump: The U.S. Right, The White House, and Neo-Fascism in Europe” This talk outlines how neo-fascist movements in Europe have directly influenced not only the language and ideas of the “alt-right” in the United States, but also the Trump White House. After briefly reviewing the history of fascist currents in the United States, it will cover the contemporary “identitarian” movement and the ideology of…

February 2019

Ciaran Berry’s most recent book is Liner Notes, published by The Gallery Press in October, 2018. He is also the author of The Dead Zoo, which was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, and The Sphere of Birds, winner of the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Open Competition, the Jerwood Aldeburgh First Collection Prize, and the Michael Murphy Memorial Prize. Originally from the West of Ireland, he lives in West Hartford and teaches in the Creative Writing Program at Trinity College.…

Online sales close Friday at 3pm. Tickets will be available at the door. 6PM - Opening Night Reception in 3V! (details below) 7:30PM - Performance of The Vagina Monologues Vaginas Unite! A poignant and hilarious tour of the last frontier, the ultimate forbidden zone, The Vagina Monologues is a celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery. In this stunning phenomenon that has swept the nation, Eve Ensler gives us real women's stories of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. Charter Oak…

Online sales close Friday at 3pm. Tickets will be available at the door. Vaginas Unite! A poignant and hilarious tour of the last frontier, the ultimate forbidden zone, The Vagina Monologues is a celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery. In this stunning phenomenon that has swept the nation, Eve Ensler gives us real women's stories of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. Charter Oak Cultural Center's annual presentation has become both a community event and a communal rite. Celebrated…

Our monthly literacy program for kids! Enjoy drinks, cookies, a children’s book read by a guest, and a special basic engineering activity themed with this month's book. Come in your pajamas and take home a free copy of the book. February's selection: ROSIE REVERE, ENGINEER by Andrea Beaty with illustrations by David Roberts Rosie Revere dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from…

Don't miss one of the world's premier Jewish choral ensembles performing an eclectic repertoire that spans centuries! Program to include: Liturgical masterworks from the 19th and 20th centuries. A tribute to Leonard Bernstein with two selections. Italian Baroque music by Salamone Rossi and Carlo Grossi Songs from Israel on the theme of reconciliation. Tickets: $20 / $15 Seniors (65+) / $5 Students & Children. No one turned away due to lack of funds. Part of…

March 2019

The Charter Oak Readings Sunday March 3, 3pm—Jonathan Andersen and Antoinette Brim Antoinette Brim, author of These Women You Gave Me, Icarus in Love and Psalm of the Sunflower, is a Cave Canem Foundation fellow, a recipient of the Walker Foundation Scholarship to the…

WOMEN OF YORK – “SHARED DINING” Exhibition: March 8 through April 8, 2019 Opening Reception – March 8 from 6pm to 8pm. A group of ten women incarcerated at York Correctional Institution in Connecticut, calling themselves “Women of York,” produced this work of art inspired by Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party. Shared Dining echoes the structure of The Dinner Party, with entry banners and place settings, each composed of a plate, chalice, and runner dedicated to a woman of personal…

Join us for our FREE monthly literacy program for kids! Enjoy drinks, cookies, and a children’s book read by Melissa-Sue John, the author of OLIVIA LAUREN'S OLIVIA TRAVELS - A GUIDE TO MODES OF TRANSPORTATION! Come in your pajamas and take home a free copy of the book.

Hartford's premier dance event returns for its 21st year! Charter Oak Cultural Center is honored to present the 21st Annual Ted Hershey Dance & Music Marathon Concert featuring dance companies, choreographers and schools in a signature celebration of Greater Hartford’s rich, culturally diverse dance community. It celebrates the life and work of Ted Hershey, principal dancer with Hartford Ballet and co-founder of Works Contemporary Dance, who died of AIDS in 1998. See flyer below for featured dance troops! CLICK HERE…

April 2019

Brian Sneeden is the author of the poetry collection Last City (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2018). A 2018 PEN/Heim recipient, his poems and translations have appeared in Asymptote, Beloit Poetry Journal, Harvard Review, TriQuarterly, Prairie Schooner, Virginia Quarterly Review, and other publications, and translations of his poems have been published in international magazines in Greek, Italian, Albanian, and Serbian. His translation of Phoebe Giannisi’s poetry collection, Homerica (World Poetry Books, 2017) was selected by Anne Carson as a favorite book…

The Jewish Plays Project's 2019 Jewish Playwriting Contest committee has reviewed, discussed and debated some of the best new plays exploring 21st century Jewish identity. On Thursday, April 11, JPP will be presenting 20-minute excerpts from the three Hartford finalists at Charter Oak Cultural Center! This event will feature actors performing excerpts from the highest vote-getting plays directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Associate Will Steinberger and produced by JPP Artistic Director David Winitsky. A $5 suggested donation will be accepted…

Our monthly literacy program for kids! Enjoy drinks, cookies, and a children’ read by our special guest, author Teresa Pelham. Come in your pajamas and take home a free copy of the book! About ROXY'S FOREVER HOME: Roxy's Forever Home is a children's book based on a rescue dog's journey from the streets of Tennessee to her forever home in Connecticut. The main character of the book is a little brown dog, who is now a certified therapy dog.

May 2019

Our monthly literacy program for children! Join us for a snack, drinks, fun activities, and a reading of "A Big Mooncake for Little Star" read by a special guest. Every child leaves with a FREE copy of the book! A BIG MOONCAKE FOR LITTLE STAR A gorgeous picture book that tells a whimsical origin story of the phases of the moon, from award-winning, bestselling author-illustrator Grace Lin Pat, pat, pat... Little Star's soft feet tiptoed to…

June 2019

THE CHARTER OAK READINGS Poetry Series Andrea Barton, Steven & Benjamin Ostrowski Sunday, June 2 at 3:00pm Andrea Barton is a mother, a daughter, a poet, and a teacher, in that order. Her work has appeared in publications such as The Labletter, The Cleave Webzine, Broken Publications,(a journal of domestic violence,) Haiku Journal #42, Bards Against Hunger Anthology. Most recently she and some other local poets (including Jim Finnegan) published an anthology, Shadows from Unfinished Things. Andrea has taught Creative Writing, American Lit, and Communications at RHAM High…

Saturday, June 15th from 2pm to 3pm FREE Summer Concert in the Courtyard - starring YOU! RJ and the On the Spot Jug Band is made up of Ruth O (on guitar ) and Jim H ( playing banjo, uke and guitar) along with members of the listening audience. A variety of traditional rhythm instruments, including washboards as well as a washtub bass and an actual jug...provide a solid beat to many old time favorite songs, sing-a-longs, just fine for…

Students who participate in Charter Oak Cultural Center’s free brass band program will be performing with members of the nationally-known Funky Dawgz Brass Band. The ensemble will be playing selections of New Orleans Jazz. Come and join the party!!! Part of MAKE MUSIC HARTFORD.

Join Charter Oak Cultural Center for a FREE outdoor concert in our courtyard featuring The DeChamplain Jazz Quartet! Atla and Matt DeChamplain use the bandstand to share an amazing American tradition. It was their love for jazz that originally brought Matt and Atla together and now their passion is to share this classic music with contemporary audiences. Their unique combination of accessibility and musicality allow them to present a variety of music including the American songbook, bebop, contemporary jazz pieces…

July 2019

Join Charter Oak Cultural Center for a FREE family event when we host DINNER & A MOVIE: MARY POPPINS RETURNS! 5:30pm - FREE community dinner! 6:30pm - FREE screening of Disney's MARY POPPINS RETURNS! The magic continues in Disney’s classic as Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) helps the Banks family remember the joy of being a child. Together with her friend Jack the lamplighter (Lin-Manuel Miranda), fun is brought back to the streets of London in celebration that everything is possible…even…

Charter Oak Cultural Center commemorates the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944 with a special performance by Open Ring Circus. $40 - Circus Hero! Includes VIP seating and a donation to One Ring $25 - General Admission $20 - Seniors (65+) and students No one turned away due to lack of funds About this Event Open Ring Circus is a collective of contemporary circus artists led by Connecticut born artist Jack Kavanagh. In honor of the fire’s 75th anniversary,…

August 2019

Saturday, August 3rd - 2pm to 3:30pm TROMBEATZ - A LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE Trombeatz is a musical group of Latin Jazz fusion on a mission to express cultural and social issues that an artist lives. This vibrant ensemble features Trombone, Congas, Drums, Bass, Vibraphone, and Tenor Sax. Join us in Charter Oak's gorgeous courtyard for an evening to make your heart beat faster. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will move indoors. Family friendly and FREE! Sponsored by the…

Saturday, August 17th at 2pm Join Charter Oak Cultural Center for a FREE outdoor concert in our courtyard featuring The DeChamplain Jazz Quartet! Atla and Matt DeChamplain use the bandstand to share an amazing American tradition. It was their love for jazz that originally brought Matt and Atla together and now their passion is to share this classic music with contemporary audiences. Their unique combination of accessibility and musicality allow them to present a variety of music including the American…

PRAYING WITH OUR FEET Standing Together Against Cruelty and Injustice at Our Borders & in Our Communities Monday, August 19th at 6pm Candlelight Vigil Walk at 8pm First Church of Christ Congregational 12 South Main Street in West Hartford. SPONSORED BY: B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Christian Activities Council (Hartford), Congregation Beth Israel, Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition, Farmington Valley League of Light, First Church Congregational, Hartford Family Institute, Mandell Jewish Community Center, Metropolitan Community Church of…